Port harcourt: The ECOWAS Parliament has announced plans to adopt Artificial Intelligence, AI, as a tool to enhance efficiency in its legislative functions. The Speaker of the Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Second Parliamentary Seminar in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, themed ‘Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region.’
According to Voice of Nigeria, Ibrahima, represented by the Fourth Deputy Speaker, Billay Tunkara, stated that the AI revolution was irreversible, noting its impact on reshaping West Africa’s economies, societies, and governance. She emphasized that AI has quickly transitioned from science fiction to a potent force transforming various aspects of life, while also challenging shared values and fundamental human rights.
She elaborated, “AI when properly harnessed by parliament will ensure informed deliberation, optimized legislation and enhanced parliamentary oversight. It provides us with the means to make our work more efficient, more transparent and more responsive to citizens’ expectations. It is up to us all to embrace this tool, train our staff and adopt our regulations and rules of procedures to accommodate this new technology.”
Ibrahima highlighted that the seminar marked the beginning of a collective and decisive approach to AI by the ECOWAS Parliament, expressing optimism that its recommendations would lead to concrete and ambitious action plans.
Lawmakers at the seminar acknowledged the necessity of adopting AI in line with global trends but raised concerns about the threats it could pose to a region still grappling with weak infrastructure. They emphasized the need for a cautious approach to ensure that the technology does not undermine the region’s stability and democratic values.
The Parliament stressed that as West Africa embraces AI, it must strike a balance between harnessing its transformative potential and safeguarding human-centred governance. The three-day seminar, which featured expert presentations, panel discussions, and debates, will be followed by the 2025 Second Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature in Port Harcourt.